Suwannee in session but could delay dismissal due to severe weather
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Severe thunderstorms expected in North Florida on Tuesday have led to the cancellation of school in Hamilton and Lafayette counties. (COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)
Columbia County School District students will get at least one more day of winter break.
Superintendent of Schools Lex Carswell announced late Monday that district would be closed Tuesday for all students, teachers and staff, including all extra-curricular and after-school activities, due to severe weather and the potential impact on the county.
With the cancellation, Columbia County Schools join the Lafayette County School District and Hamilton County School District in canceling school due to the threat of inclement weather. The Suwannee County School District, meanwhile, plans for school to be in session as normal.
“The safety of our staff and our students is always our top priority,” Hamilton County Superintendent of Schools Dorothy Wetherington-Zamora said in a statement released on social media. “The major issue with the weather is the predicted wind and wind gusts that exceed safety thresholds for our school buses for our dismissal routes.”
In addition to calling off school Tuesday, the Columbia County School Board meeting set for Tuesday night has also been canceled. The board next meets Jan. 23.
In Suwannee County, while school will be in session, dismissal could be delayed depending on the weather impacts.
According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, a squall line is expected to arrive in the area between between noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday. The storm is forecast to have sustained 20-35 mph winds with frequent gusts of 40-50 mph. Tornadoes and hail are possible as well.
The severe thunderstorms also could bring up to four inches of rain to the area, according to the NWS.